Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, commonly known by her stage name as Jamala, is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter with a passion for music that began in her early childhood. At the age of nine, she made her first professional recording, performing 12 Crimean Tatar folk and children’s songs.
Jamala gained international recognition when she represented Ukraine and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with her powerful song “1944.” Her connection to Eurovision continued as she served as a judge for Vidbir, Ukraine’s national selection for the contest, in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova
- Stage Name: Jamala
- Born: 27 August 1983
- Age: 43 years old
- Birthplace: Osh, Kyrgyzstan
- Nationality: Kyrgyz, Ukrainian
- Occupation: Ukrainian singer
- Height: 1.73 m
- Parents: Alim Jamaladinova and Halyna Tumasova
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Bekir Suleimanov (m. 2017)
- Children: Emir-Rahman Seit-Bekir ogly Suleimanov and Seyit Suleimanov
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $1 million
Early Life And Education
Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, known as Jamala, was born on August 27, 1983, in Osh, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union. She is the daughter of Alim Jamaladinov and Halyna Tumasova. Coming from a musical family, her mother was a music school teacher, and her father was a trained conductor. While Jamala may have grown up with siblings, their names are not publicly known.
She began her musical education at Music School No. 1 in Alushta, where she specialized in piano. She later graduated from Simferopol Music College and went on to complete a degree in opera singing at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv. Jamala is of mixed Crimean Tatar and Armenian descent and practices Islam as her religion.
Career
Jamala, whose passion for music began in her early childhood, made her first professional recording at the age of nine, singing 12 Crimean Tatar folk and children’s songs. She pursued formal music education at the Simferopol Music College and later graduated from the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine as an opera singer. However, she chose to focus on a career in pop music.
On February 14, 2010, Jamala released her debut single, “You Are Made of Love,” from her first studio album, For Every Heart. This was followed by the singles “It’s Me, Jamala” on October 18, 2010, and “Smile” on November 23, 2010. In early 2011, she competed in Ukraine’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Smile,” which became a crowd favorite and secured her a spot in the finals.
Jamala continued releasing music, including the singles “Hurt” and “Kaktus” (Ukrainian: «Ка́ктус», English: “Cactus”) in 2013. Her second album, All or Nothing, was released on March 19, 2013, through Moon Records Ukraine. She later released the EP Thank You in October 2014, featuring the single “Zaplutalas” (Ukrainian: «Заплу́талась», English: “Confused”).
In 2015, Jamala released her third studio album, Podykh (Ukrainian: «По́дих», English: “Breath”), with notable singles like “Ochyma” and “Shlyakh dodomu” (Ukrainian: «Шлях додо́му», English: “The Way Home”).
Jamala achieved international fame by representing Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with her song “1944,” which she wrote in 2014. The song, inspired by the deportation of the Crimean Tatars and her great-grandmother’s personal story, resonated deeply with audiences.
After qualifying from the second semi-final, she won the grand final on May 14, 2016, with 534 points. Following her victory, then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced her nomination as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
On October 12, 2018, Jamala released her fifth studio album, Kryla, with its title track debuting as a single on March 21, 2018. She performed the song as an interval act during Vidbir, Ukraine’s Eurovision selection show, that same year.
In 2022, Jamala appeared in season 26 of the Polish TV show Taniec z Gwiazdami (Dancing with the Stars). In 2023, she performed “1944” during the Eurovision Song Contest’s flag parade, alongside other notable Ukrainian Eurovision acts. The following year, she served as the Ukrainian spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Awards and Nominations
Jamala has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career.
Eurovision Song Contest:
- Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song “1944”
YUNA Music Awards:
- Best Female Singer (2017)
- Best Song (“1944”) (2017)
- Best Duo/Collaboration (2017)
- Best Album (“Podykh”) (2017)
- Best Original Film Song (2017)
- Best Lyricist (2017)
- Best Solo Artist (2017)
- Best Album (“Kryla”) (2018)
- Best Song (“Kryla”) (2018)
- Shevchenko National Prize in Music (2017)
- MTV Europe Music Award for Best Ukrainian Act (2016)
- Elle Style Awards (2016, 2017)
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @jamalajaaa
- Facebook handle: Jamala | Джамала
- Twitter handle: Jamala
Personal Life
Jamala is married to Bekir Suleimanov, an economist and mathematician. They were married on April 26, 2017, in a traditional Islamic ceremony at the Kyiv Islamic Cultural Center.
Their relationship became public in September 2016. The couple has two children: their son Emir-Rahman, born on March 27, 2018, and daughter named Seyit. Jamala announced in 2024 that they are expecting their third child.
Discography
Studio Albums:
- For Every Heart (2011)
- All or Nothing (2013)
- Podykh (2015)
- 1944 (2016)
- Kryla (2017)
- 10 (2019)
- Svoi (2019)
- QIRIM (2022)
EPs:
- Thank You (2014)
- 5:45 (2019)
- 05:45, 2019 (2020)
Singles:
- “You’re Made of Love” (2010)
- “It’s me, Jamala” (2010)
- “Smile” (2010)
- “Я люблю тебя” (“I love you”) (2012)
- “Hurt” (2012)
- “Кактус” (“Cactus”) (2013)
- “Заплуталась” (“Confused”) (2014)
- “Злива” (“Shower”) (with Andrii Khlyvniuk) (2014)
- “Чому?” (“Why?”) (2014)
- “Подих” (“Breath”) (2015)
- “1944” (2016)
- “Заманили” (“Lured”) (with DakhaBrakha) (2016)
- “I Believe in U” (2017)
- “Сумую” (“I miss”) (2017)
- “Крила” (“Wings”) (2018)
- “Самға” (2018)
- “Solo” (2019)
- “Крок” (“Step”) (with Cape Cod) (2019)
- “Кохаю” (“I love”) (with Jah Khalib) (2019)
- “Ціна правди” (“The price of truth”) (2019)
Net Worth
Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, professionally known as Jamala, has an estimated net worth of around $1 million. Her wealth comes mainly from her successful music career, including her victory in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 and the release of multiple albums throughout her career.